Securing Africa’s Future: Nairobi Conference Puts Human Rights at the Heart of National Security

In a landmark gathering that could redefine the future of national security on the continent, the Pan-African Conference on National Security and Human Rights concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 19, 2025, with a powerful commitment: security in Africa must protect, not oppress.

Organized by HAKI Africa in partnership with the Open Society Foundations, the two-day event at the Argyle Grand Hotel united a diverse coalition from across East, West, Central, North, and Southern Africa—civil society leaders, human rights defenders, government officials, youth activists, and journalists—all focused on rethinking the balance between state security and citizens’ rights.

With the theme, “The Conflict Between National Security Obligations and Human Rights in Africa: Towards a People-Centered Security Framework,” the conference came at a crucial time, as countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tunisia confront rising civic unrest and democratic backsliding.

Dr. Joseph Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), called the event a “pivotal moment” in Africa’s human rights journey.

“Security and human rights are not at odds—they are intertwined necessities,” he said. Highlighting the growing use of arbitrary detentions, shrinking civic spaces, and misuse of cybersecurity laws from Accra to Cairo, Wemakor warned of creeping authoritarianism.

As a celebrated global advocate and recipient of the UN Global Entreps Award and Africa Peace Advocate Award, Wemakor urged attendees to form strong coalitions and draft a unified communiqué demanding governments shift toward people-centered security reforms.

Representing the host nation, Principal Secretary Judy Pareno of Kenya’s State Department for Justice, Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights acknowledged the tension between protection and repression.
“Security should not undermine human rights,” Pareno stated, warning that without accountability, security forces risk becoming agents of fear rather than guardians of peace.

Pareno outlined her department’s priorities: civic education, anti-corruption, and reparations for victims of state abuse. She also highlighted ongoing reforms, such as Kenya’s 100% school transition policy and the creation of a National Coroner Service to investigate unnatural deaths independently. Drawing on her experience as an election observer in Rwanda, she praised cost-effective, volunteer-driven election models and encouraged the adoption of best practices across Africa. “You are at home,” she warmly told international guests.

George Kegoro, Africa Director at the Open Society Foundations, brought data into focus. With 70% of Africa’s population under 30, and a median age of just 18 to 19, he pointed to a surge in educated, unemployed urban youth as a ticking time bomb. “Education promises opportunity, but too often, graduates find no jobs,” Kegoro explained, citing the Gen Z protests in Kenya as a case study.

He criticized governments for alternating between co-opting protest movements and using state violence to silence dissent. In his words, the real threats often come not from the streets, but from elites in “suits and ties” whose unchecked power undermines public trust.
He urged a reframing of national security around economic justice and structural reforms.

Prof. Najya Mohammed, HAKI Africa’s Board Chair and a Tunisian with Kenyan roots, offered a deeply personal story of her mother’s eviction, underscoring that security is not just about military might—it’s about the basic dignity and safety of daily life.

“Security is about capability; it’s about shielding people from harm,” she said, emphasizing the vital role of community-level human rights defenders.

Mohammed also announced HAKI Africa’s expansion into Zambia and Ghana, reflecting growing community trust in the organization where state support often falls short. “We’re now handling even minor issues because people trust us,” she noted.

In his opening remarks, Yusuf Aboubakar, Executive Director of HAKI Africa, set the tone for the gathering with a stark warning:
“Africa’s democracies are under threat,” he said, citing judicial killings and forced disappearances that are often justified in the name of national security.

Aboubakar urged a wholesale rethinking of security—one that reinforces justice and protects human dignity, not undermines it.
He lauded his team’s efforts and introduced HAKI Africa’s board leadership, expressing hope that the conference would lay the groundwork for a continental shift grounded in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

As the conference drew to a close, the mood in the room was one of solidarity, urgency, and resolve. The discussions and personal testimonies shared over two days created momentum for a future where Africa’s security systems protect—not police—its citizens.

If governments listen to the voices raised in Nairobi, the continent could see the birth of a new security architecture—one rooted in transparency, accountability, justice, and the unshakable belief that the highest form of national security is the protection of its people.